Kevin Hart’s Perfect Response To Sony Email Leaks

Responding to a widening scandal in the wake of leaked emails from Sony that referred to him as a “whore,” actor and stand-up comedian Kevin Hart delivered the perfect response in an Instagram post Thursday.

“Knowing your self worth is extremely important people…I worked very hard to get to where I am today. I look at myself as a brand and because of that I will never allow myself to be taking advantage of. I OWN MY BRAND…I MAKE SMART DECISIONS FOR MY BRAND…I PROTECT MY BRAND…which is why I’m able to brush ignorance off of my shoulder and continue to move forward. I refuse to be broken people…with that being said its now time for me to get back to building this empire that I’ve always dreamed of!!!!”

The response comes after hacktivists released scads of messages between Sony Pictures executives and Hollywood figures, including Sony Pictures Entertainment Co-chair Amy Pascal and producer Scott Rudin as NewsOne reported Thursday. Some of the missives refer to Hart as a “whore” and include racially charged comments about President Barack Obama.

The Los Angeles Times reports that in a March 7 email, Screen Gems Inc. President Clint Culpepper Pascal claimed that Hart wanted more money for promoting an upcoming film on social media.

“If his film does NOT perform it hurts his brand and we have his next 3 films,” Culpepper wrote. “I’m not saying he’s a whore, but he’s a whore.”

Hart was mentioned again in a separate email when Pascal asked Rudin what question she should ask President Obama at a breakfast hosted by DreamWorks Animation, the Times writes.

After Pascal asked whether the president would like the Kevin Hart movie “Think Like a Man,” Rudin said: “’Ride-Along.’ I bet he likes Kevin Hart.”

Pascal apologized Thursday for her insensitivity, as NewsOne reported. Still, the Rev. Al Sharpton compared her to disgraced former L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling and called for her to meet with Black business leaders in Los Angeles.

We’re proud of Hart for his poignant illustration of how #BlackLivesMatter. If you do not protect your brand, who will?